Argumentative Strategies
Code
722011050
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Ciências da Comunicação
Credits
10
Weekly hours
3 letivas + 1 tutorial
Teaching language
English
Objectives
Goals:
a) To analyze arguments, highlighting the type of argument scheme used to support a conclusion;
b) To assess the probative weight of an argument;
c) To individuate fallacies and counter weak or deceptive arguments.
Transferable Skills:
Assessing arguments; argumentation and critical thinking skills.
Prerequisites
Basic understanding of logical principles
Subject matter
1.Introduction. Basic notions of argumentation theory: (Dialogues. The structure of an argument. Argument and explanation. Rebutting and questioning arguments).
2.The logic of arguments. (Deductive reasoning. Inductive reasoning. Abductive reasoning).
3.Formal fallacies. (Syllogistic Errors, Affirming the consequent, Causal fallacies, Non Sequitur).
4.Presumptive reasoning. (The structure of an enthymeme. The system of maxims and argumentation schemes) .
5.Argumentation schemes. (Arguments from knowledge and authority. Argument from cause. Argument from sign).
6.Arguments from definition. (Classification. The structure of definition. Types of definition and inferences.
7.Redefinitions and Persuasive Definitions (Emotive Meaning and Persuasive definitions. Applications to political discourse.
8.Semantic Strategies: analogy and opposition. (Analogy and classification. The structure of analogy. Oppositions and alternatives) .
9. Emotive argument schemes and fallacies. (Appeal to pity. Argument from threat. Fallacies Ad hominem; Ad baculum; Ad misericordiam).
10.Ethos and reasoning. (Commitments in a dialogue. Argument from inconsistency) .
11.Fallacies of relevance (Straw man. Begging the question).
12.Persuasion dialogue. (Characteristics of a persuasion dialogue. Other types of dialogue) .
13.Practical reasoning and decision-making dialogue (Argument from consequences. Practical reasoning. Irrelevance in dialogue).
Bibliography
Required Text and Materials:
Douglas Walton (2006). Fundamentals of Critical Argumentation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Further readings
1.Eemeren, F.H. van, & Grootendorst, R. (2004). A systematic theory of argumentation: The pragma-dialectical approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
2.Macagno F, Walton D. (2009). Argument from Analogy in Law, the Classical Tradition, and Recent Theories. Philosophy and Rhetoric 42 (2): 154-182
Teaching method
Explanation of the theoretical grounds. Discussion in the classroom and reply to doubts. Exercises focused on the class contents solved in the classroom. Individual exercises corrected together in the classroom. Explanation of the mistakes and doubts.
Evaluation method
1. Written test consisting in two parts: Theoretical questions (open ended); Exercises on the subject matters of the first part of the course.
2. Final exam consisting in a written analysis of a political discourse or a commercial campaign.